sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sunflash@suntri sunflash-Send requests and problem reports to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Seven Recent Sun Press Releases SunFLASH Vol 53 #10 May 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article contains 7 recent Sun press releases. -johnj ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CSC and Sun Sign Joint Agreement SunSoft Launches Interactive Unix System 4.0 SMCC Opens Offices In Greece & Middle East New Dedicated US Reseller Organization Sun And Siemens Nixdorf Team Up SunPro and Univel's UnixWare SunSolutions Expands Operations In Europe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: CSC and Sun Sign Joint Agreement Contact: Vicki Ferrando, Hi-Tech Communications, Phone: 415-904-7000 x259 FAX: 415-904-7025 Email vickif@irsmp.Sun.COM. Org: Computer Sciences Corporation Phone: (310) 615-0311 Contact: C. Bruce Plowman, Bill Lackey or Mary Rhodes CSC AND SUN SIGN JOINT AGREEMENT TO MARKET SYSTEMS INTEGRATION TO AEROSPACE INDUSTRY EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE:CSC) today announced a joint marketing and sales agreement with Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) to promote client/server, open systems-based solutions in the worldwide aerospace manufacturing marketplace. Target customers will be users who seek to move their proprietary host-based data centers to an open, client-server environment that gives them more productivity at less cost. The agreement combines CSC's expertise in systems integration, enhanced by its skills in reengineering and business process improvement, with Sun's leading platforms for client-server computing solutions. Combined revenues resulting from the agreement are expected to total approximately $80 million in worldwide services, software and hardware sales over the next 18 months. "Manufacturers are under intense pressure in today's global marketplace to speed time-to-market and reduce costs," said Van Honeycutt, group president responsible for CSC's technology management outsourcing activities. "Our teaming with Sun gives us the full spectrum of solution links to client/servers." Honeycutt added that Sun's strength as the leading supplier of SPARC/Solaris (R) workstations and servers in the manufacturing arena and CSC's stature as a leader in outsourcing and systems integration services to the aerospace industry gives the team a clear advantage in addressing the industry's special needs. In the aerospace sector, CSC secured the largest outsourcing contract ever signed with General Dynamics in 1991. The $3 billion, 10-year agreement positioned CSC as the leading provider of information services to the aerospace industry, with CSC supplying data center management, network operations and other technical services such as systems integration and applications management. Today, CSC's clients include Hughes, Lockheed and other major aerospace companies. According to SMCC's Mario Dal Canto, director of technical and industrial market development, "CSC is a leader in aerospace information systems integration--and client/server and open systems are a critical part of that service. With this partnership, Sun and CSC can help clients strategically assess their information technology operations and begin the move to open client-server computing to improve their business processes efficiency." An added benefit for manufacturers, noted Paul Crowley, group president responsible for CSC's commercial consulting practice, is the company's leadership with CALS, or Computer-Aided Acquisition and Logistics Support. CALS is a set of data interchange standards that can replace paper-driven processes with the digital exchange of data. It was conceived by industry and the Department of Defense in the 1980s to reduce costs and improve the quality of American manufactured goods. CSC took the lead with CALS technology in 1991 when it was chosen to help all three military services streamline the job of developing and maintaining weapons systems with a global data management system called Joint CALS. (JCALS). Today, CSC also offers a commercial version of the product, Enterprise CALS (ECALS), targeted to help manufacturers improve productivity and slash costs. "Sun is a leader in open systems that support standards -- and the aerospace industry will be among the first to embrace these standards as suppliers to the federal government," said Crowley. "Our leadership with CALS--and our teaming with Sun--gives aerospace clients an edge in developing systems that adhere to standards critical to their future." With headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., CSC is the largest independent provider of information technology consulting, systems integration and outsourcing to industry and government. CSC has 300 offices worldwide, with more than 26,000 employees and annual revenues of $2.5 billion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SunSoft Launches Interactive Unix System 4.0 Contact: Karen Andre, SunSoft, Inc. +1 (415) 336-3890 Contact: Dan Stevens, Hi-Tech Communications +1 (415) 904-7000 SUNSOFT LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE UNIX SYSTEM 4.0 SCO Applications To Run On New Product UNIX RESELLER SHOW, Dallas, May 4, 1993 -- SunSoft, Inc. today introduced INTERACTIVE UNIX System, Version 4.0 with new features that increase system functionality, application compatibility and peripheral support. The new product will run a number of The Santa Cruz Operation's SCO UNIX and Open Desktop applications, giving users access to more than 5,000 software packages. SunSoft made a series of distribution and technology agreements today. The company, adding to its 3,000 distributors and resellers worldwide, inked distribution agreements with Arrow Electronics Inc. Commercial Systems Group, a leading distributor of mini and micro computers, workstations, "add-in" computing products, peripherals, software, networking and communication products and GBC Technologies, a leading technical distributor in the U.S., specializing in networking, open systems connectivity and data communications. In addition, Fifth Generation Systems will provide FastBack Plus, a leading backup program used by over 2 million users, for the INTERACTIVE UNIX System 4.0. SunSoft will include FastBack Plus with the INTERACTIVE UNIX System 4.0 multiuser products at no charge from now through December. As one of SunSoft's flagship products, INTERACTIVE UNIX System is predominantly used in the areas of process control, factory automation and point of sale as a multiuser system. Some of the world's largest companies use the INTERACTIVE UNIX System including BF Goodrich, BMW, Dresdner Bank, Saab, British Petroleum, Elf Atochem, Goodyear, the U.S. Courts, British House of Commons, London Futures and Options Exchange, and the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team. "The multiuser x86 market is growing rapidly," said JanPieter Scheerder, vice president of product engineering at SunSoft. "INTERACTIVE UNIX System 4.0 combines functionality, stability and robustness, with volume applications and distribution, giving users the optimal multiuser software solution today." "UNIX is a growing market," said Robert McInerney, President of Arrow's Commercial Systems Group, "With SunSoft's INTERACTIVE UNIX System and strong technical support, we can effectively meet the expanding needs of the market and increase the value of computing products we provide to resellers and system integrators." New Product Features Version 4.0 offers several new features designed to make computing easier for the end user. The 32-bit software, based on UNIX System V/386 Release 3.2 (SVR3.2), offers easy installation, system administration and a range of hardware support. New features include: Extended Binary Compatibility - runs SCO UNIX and Open Desktop applications in addition to others written to the Intel Binary Compatibility Standard Issue 2 (iBCS2). Windows applications will run in the second half of 1993, bringing the largest base of x86 applications to the INTERACTIVE UNIX System platform. Tape Distribution - offers 150Mb, 1/4" tape distribution to simplify and speed up operating system installation, reducing system administration time. Long File Names and Symbolic Links - increases file names to 512 characters to expand the flexibility of naming and organizing files, and increases interoperability with other operating environments. Symbolic links allow users to link to any file in the workgroup eliminating multiple file saves and freeing up disk space. New Hardware Devices Support - offers up to 256Mb of memory on ISA, EISA, and MCA machines, allowing users to take full advantage of high-end PCs. Boot Loadable Device Drivers - allows users to take advantage of the latest disk controller hardware by providing the capability to boot and install the system utilizing third-party supplied device drivers. Selectable Console Support - provides system administrators with the ability to perform tasks from any remote location. New Packaging and Documentation - provides consolidated and more informative packaging and documentation. New users guides and installation and maintenance manuals are available to provide users with concise and complete documentation. New Extension Products - Concurrently with the release of Version 4.0, SunSoft is announcing new, enhanced versions of INTERACTIVE TCP/IP, INTERACTIVE NFS, INTERACTIVE X/11, the INTERACTIVE Software Development System (SDS), and the VP/ix Environment. The new SDS includes an upgraded, high performance, NIST-certified ANSI C compiler that runs up to 80 percent faster than the previous version, and a Motif version of the CodeWatch visual debugging tool. The new VP/ix Version 1.3 provides additional capability over Version 1.2, such as support for DOS 5.0, at a reduced price. New Reseller Programs SunSoft announced its Partner For Profits reseller briefing being held today and tomorrow (May 4 and 5) at the UNIX Reseller Show in Dallas. As part of the seminar, a Computer Reseller News expert will discuss "UNIX opportunities for VARs" and SunSoft will reveal market opportunities for the INTERACTIVE UNIX System product. Partner For Profits is offered through SunSoft's Spectrum program as a means to increase channel sales and offer distributors and VARs a competitive edge. Spectrum is an ongoing program with successful training and education, sales and lead generation, and marketing and merchandising support. The next seminar, called Solutions `93, will be held in July to educate and communicate market opportunities and pertinent information on the INTERACTIVE UNIX System. SunSoft has established Regional Application Centers (RACs) to allow resellers and third-party software developers to verify testing of commercial or custom applications on PC platforms running the INTERACTIVE UNIX operating system. Currently, three RACs are in operation in the U.S. including SunSoft Boston Development Center, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, SunSoft Headquarters, Mountain View, California, and Access Graphics, Boulder, Colorado. For more information on the RACs, please call the RAC Information Line at 415-336-2978. Pricing and Availability The INTERACTIVE UNIX System 4.0 is available immediately and is priced at $495 in single quantity. The Base Solution, multiuser version of the 4.0 product is priced at $895 in single quantity and includes, FastBack Plus at no charge. Current INTERACTIVE UNIX System 3.0 users can upgrade to 4.0 for $195. For additional value, users of Version 3.0 can upgrade to the 4.0 which includes FastBack Plus, for $295. For more information on the INTERACTIVE UNIX System, please call 1-800-227-9227. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SMCC Opens Offices In Greece & Middle East Contact: Carol Hartzell, SMCC PR at +01 (415) 336-0598. SMCC OPENS REGIONAL OFFICES IN GREECE AND MIDDLE EAST MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - May 10, 1993 - Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) announced today that its intercontinental division has opened a regional office in Athens, Greece. The office supports distributors operating in more than 20 countries, including Portugal, Cyprus, Turkey, Israel and countries in Africa. A Middle East regional office in Dubai, UAE, was also opened that covers 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE and Egypt. Together, these offices allow the company to provide local sales, service and marketing support directly to its distributors and value-added resellers in more than 25 countries spanning two continents. "We've seen a dramatic increase in demand for UNIX-based systems in this region, and this has created a need for establishing a service and support organization for Sun SPARC/Solaris systems," stated Tim Dwyer, vice president of intercontinental operations. He added, " We also want to build on the excellent relationships with customers established over the last few years by our local partners, and to make Sun systems an integral part of developing these important and fast-growing markets." Existing SMCC partners and the new sales offices will focus on penetrating the banking/financial services, education, telecommunications, earth resources and government markets. More than 50 percent of SMCC's revenues come from non-U.S. markets. The new offices are part of the company's efforts to expand worldwide. SMCC also has offices in Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, the People's Republic of China, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: New Dedicated US Reseller Organization Contact: Lisa Ganier at +1 (415) 336-5636 SUN ESTABLISHES DEDICATED RESELLER ORGANIZATION Neil Knox Named Vice President, Reseller Channel MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. --May 3, 1993-- Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) today announced it has established a dedicated reseller organization in the United States, elevating this important function to a level of higher visibility in the corporate organization. The group is responsible for sales, training, systems and marketing support for U.S. resellers, which include value-added resellers (VAR), commercial system integrators (CSI), master resellers and rental companies. "This centralized organization will give resellers many advantages, such as direct communication and quick response," said reseller Mike Shook, president of Strategic Technologies, Inc. "We believe this move shows SMCC's commitment to channels as an integral part of its business." The reseller channel represents over half of sales in the United States. Last year, this channel accounted for approximately $1 billion of Sun's U.S. revenues. Previously, reseller programs were developed by the reseller channel marketing group and implemented by each area vice president. Combining the resellers into one centralized group enables SMCC to provide consistent implementation across the United States. Neil Knox to Head New Organization Starting July 1, Neil Knox will head the new organization, which will be based in Dallas, Tex. Knox has been with SMCC for five years. As vice president for the central area, he was responsible for sales and service within the area in addition to managing the relationships with Access Graphics and Intelligent Electronics, two of SMCCs master resellers. Prior to joining SMCC, Knox spent 10 years in sales and marketing with Data General and before that, three years with Burroughs Corporation in his native Scotland. As vice president of channels, Knox will be in charge of the 1,000 companies in SMCC's reseller community. He will report to Bill Marr, vice president of North American and Australian field operations. "Neil brings approximately two decades of sales and marketing experience to the channel organization," said Marr. "Based on his knowledge of the issues in the field, he will be particularly sensitive to the needs and concerns of the resellers." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Sun And Siemens Nixdorf Team Up Contact: Bob DeLaney at (415) 336-4280 Contact: Wendy Moro at Hi-Tech Communications at (415) 904-7000 x234 Contact: Ian Robb Siemens Nixdorf, (617) 273-0480. SUN AND SIEMENS NIXDORF TEAM UP TO PROVIDE IN-STORE SYSTEMS TO RETAILERS MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--May 10, 1993--Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) and Siemens Nixdorf USA, a major supplier of retail point-of-sale (POS) systems, today announced that Siemens Nixdorf will port its industry-leading Calypso(TM) POS software application to the SPARC(R)/Solaris(R) platform, creating a complete high-performance, low-cost, in-store system for retail organizations. The two companies will be jointly marketing their products in the U.S. The solution combines high-performance SPARC(R) workstations and servers from SMCC with Intel-based POS terminals and software applications developed by Siemens Nixdorf. Customers will be able to take advantage of an open, powerful and expandable in-store processing solution that features the ease of use of Siemens Nixdorf terminals and applications, combined with the high processing power of open RISC systems from SMCC. The new solution will give retailers the ability to add store-level applications--including sales tracking, inventory, customer databases, personnel scheduling, direct store delivery and more--all on a single system within the store, or centrally at headquarters. First Open RISC System from Siemens Nixdorf USA The new offering will be the first open RISC-based in- store processing solution from Siemens Nixdorf USA, whose POS systems are installed in many of the leading department and specialty stores in the United States and 10 of the top 20 supermarkets in the world. Major retailers, including Nordstrom, Montgomery Ward, True Value Hardware, Miller's Outpost, Dayton Hudson and Marshall Fields, have previously purchased Siemens Nixdorf POS solutions. "Our relationship with Siemens Nixdorf will result in an exciting new in-store option for our retail customers, and we believe that will create new opportunities for both SMCC and Siemens Nixdorf," said Doug Kaewert, director of commercial market development at SMCC. "We will offer customers powerful back-end processing with multi-tasking, enterprise-wide connectivity and expansion capabilities--all in a cost-effective, integrated package." "Today's announcement underscores our commitment to the world of open systems and our desire to cooperate with partners who can enhance our retail solutions," said Stan Martin, vice president of the Siemens Nixdorf Retail Systems Division. "With the raw processing power and open environment of Sun hardware to complement the other open-architecture solutions we offer, customers can be assured of our ability to provide the systems solutions that meet their unique requirements." SMCC and Siemens Nixdorf will initially focus their marketing efforts on supermarkets, chain drug stores, and selected specialty store retailers. The SMCC/Siemens Nixdorf Partnership SMCC and Siemens Nixdorf are developing a business relationship that will effectively leverage each company's strengths. SMCC's SPARC/Solaris systems are the acknowledged leader in RISC-based UNIX(R) computing, while Siemens Nixdorf is known worldwide as a leader in retail POS solutions. By combining forces, the two companies are able to offer customers complete, open, RISC-based POS solutions that meet today's needs while providing an upward migration path to emerging technologies. About Siemens Nixdorf Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems, Inc. is a major developer and marketer of business system solutions incorporating micro-, server and super-mini computers. Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, the company is the U.S. subsidiary of German-based Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG. With a sales and service network in 45 countries worldwide, international manufacturing facilities and about 47,000 employees, it is the largest European computer firm and ranks among the world's leading information technology specialists. Siemens Nixdorf is a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens AG, which in 1991-92 had over $49 billion in combined sales and about 413,000 employees in more than 150 companies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SunPro and Univel's UnixWare Contact: Emily Cohen, Hi-Tech Communications, Inc. (415) 904-7000 Contact: Pattie Walters, SunPro (415) 336-4638 SUNPRO TO PROVIDE PROWORKS DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR UNIVEL'S UNIXWARE MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - May 3, 1993 - SunPro, the software development business of Sun Microsystems, Inc., today announced that it will port the ProWorks(TM) family of C, C++, and FORTRAN software development environments for the x86 platform to run on Univel's UnixWare(TM). This move to UnixWare continues SunPro's expansion of its product line to volume platforms. Customers will benefit from a common development environment across popular platforms because ProWorks for UnixWare provides source code compatibility and is functionally identical with SunPro tools on other platforms. "With more than ten years experience satisfying the needs of professional developers in the workstation market, SunPro is uniquely positioned to provide development tools to the large, growing base of high-end PC users," said Jon Kannegaard, Vice President and General Manager of SunPro. "Bringing ProWorks to UnixWare underscores our strong commitment to deliver our technology on volume platforms." The ProWorks product family addresses three critical areas of software development - compiler performance, programmer productivity, and team development. It consists of ProCompiler C, C++, and FORTRAN that produce the fast, tight code necessary for high-performance applications on the x86 architecture, including the Pentium(TM) processor; ProWorks development tools that include browsing, debugging, and performance tuning capabilities to speed and simplify programming tasks; and ProWorks(TM)/TeamWare, a suite of tools that provide code management, version control, and software release management support for teams of programmers. "The availability of SunPro tools on UnixWare provides our PC developers with one of the most advanced development environments in the industry," said Joel Appelbaum, Univel president and CEO. "Our customers will benefit from the power and performance of SunPro's integrated development environment, ProWorks, to create the high-end applications required by today's client/server computing environments. And since UnixWare runs on industry standard Intel hardware, the availability of SunPro development tools means the availability of a low cost delivery platform for SunPro and UnixWare end users." UnixWare delivers advanced UNIX SVR4.2 system capabilities, graphical user interface, seamless integration with NetWare network services; ability to deploy thousands of custom, semi-custom and personal productivity applications; and its well developed worldwide infrastructure of resellers and distributors. UnixWare supports today's open-standards-- POSIX, FIPS, XPG3, iBCS2 and iABI ensuring portability and scalability. Pricing and Availability SunPro expects availability in late 1993. Pricing and delivery will be announced at that time. About SunPro SunPro, a business of Sun Microsystems, Inc., is dedicated to building and marketing innovative tools to serve the needs of professional software developers. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., SunPro is the worldwide volume leader in professional software development products for the UNIX® environment. SunPro products are available worldwide through a network of master distributors, resellers, and computer system manufacturers. About Univel Univel, founded in December of 1991, is a partnership between Novell, Inc and UNIX Systems Laboratories, Inc. The company is chartered with growing the UNIX® system and network computing market by providing open system software solutions for distributed enterprise-wide computing. Univel's headquarters are in San Jose, Calif. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: SunSolutions Expands Operations In Europe Contact: Kathryn Watson, SunSolutions (415) 336-6851 Contact: Andrew McCarthy, Niehaus Ryan Haller (415) 615-7913 SUNSOLUTIONS EXPANDS OPERATIONS IN EUROPE MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--May 10, 1993--SunSolutions, the computer desktop conferencing business of Sun Microsystems, Inc., announced today that it has expanded operations with the opening of a Northern European office based in the United Kingdom. SunSolutions also announced plans to open by summer an office in Central Europe. Andrew Rattigan has been appointed to manage the Northern European office, which will market products in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Ireland and the U.K. Rattigan previously worked for Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation in various positions, most recently leading Sun's entry into the Commonwealth of Independent States' computer market. "As SunSolutions' business has grown in Europe, it has become important strategically for us to strengthen our presence there," said Byron Ryono, general manager of SunSolutions. "SunSolutions sells its products exclusively through resellers. These new offices will support our European resellers in further expanding our installed base." Ryono said, "We expect companies to increasingly look to desktop conferencing technology to increase competitiveness. Facsimile machines and cellular telephones quickly became integral tools of business. Desktop conferencing products represent the next advancement in communications technology." SunSolutions is dedicated to providing desktop conferencing products that improve real-time communications and collaboration between individuals and workgroups. Its ShowMe(TM) software allows workstation users to collaborate on documents and images in real-time over local and wide area networks. Professionals in a wide range of technical and commercial markets can use ShowMe software to collaborate on projects. Key application areas include medical imaging, finance, real estate, retail, telemarketing, education, government, CASE and CAD. Approximately 28 percent of SunSolutions' revenue comes from Europe, where the business has such customers as GEC Plessey Semiconductors in the U.K., the Universitaet Konstanz in Germany and Ericsson Telecom in Sweden. SunSoft, headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a subsidiary of Sun Microsystems, Inc. The company has offices in North America, Europe and Asia. SunSoft is a leading supplier of 32-bit system software solutions for SPARC and Intel 80386/486-based computers. The products are licensed by SunSoft and distributed through major computer manufacturers and resellers worldwide. (c)1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc.,the Sun logo, SunSoft, and the SunSoft Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. INTERACTIVE is a trademark of INTERACTIVE Systems Corporation. UNIX is a registered trademark of UNIX System Laboratories. Intel is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation. All other products or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909